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The Nature of the Chiropractic Adjustment
The primary treatment used as a Doctor of Chiropractic is spinal manipulative therapy. This procedure will likely be used to treat you. It may be with the use of hands or a mechanical instrument upon your body in such a way as to move your joints. That may feel a sense of movement or release.
As a part of the analysis, examination, and treatment, you are consenting to the following procedures:
Analysis and Examination Procedures:
| Vital signs (Temp, BP, etc) |
Postural analysis testing |
| Palpation (feeling muscles/joints) |
Neurological examination |
| Range of motion testing |
Order blood labs |
| Muscle strength testing |
Order of Imaging |
| Orthopedic testing |
Urine analysis |
| Body composition analysis |
|
Treatments:
| Spinal Manipulative Therapy (Chiropractic Adjustment) |
Hot/Cold Therapy |
| Ultrasound (Therapeutic) |
Electrical Muscle Stimulation |
| Functional Dry Needle Therapy |
Taping/Joint Support Procedures |
| Soft Tissue Manipulation/Mobilization by hand or instrument |
Rehabilitation/Exercise Therapies |
| Nutritional, Herbal Therapeutics |
|
The material risks inherent in chiropractic treatment and other treatments: As with any healthcare procedure, there are certain complications which may arise during chiropractic manipulation and therapy. These complications include but are not limited to: fractures, disc injuries dislocations, muscle strain, cervical myelopathy, costovertebral strains and separations, accidental puncture of a lung (dry needling) light bruising and burns. Some types of manipulation of the neck have been associated with injuries to the arteries in the neck leading to or contributing to serious complications including stroke. This is extremely rare. Some patients will feel some stiffness and soreness following the first few days of treatment. I will make every reasonable effort during the examination to screen for contraindications to care; however, if you have a condition that would otherwise not come to my attention, it is your responsibility to inform me.
The probability of those risks occurring: Fractures are rare occurrences and generally result from some underlying weakness of the bone which will be checked for during the taking of your history and during examination and/or X-ray. Stroke has been the subject of tremendous disagreement. The incidences of stroke are exceedingly rare and are estimated to occur between one in one million and one in five million cervical adjustments. The other complications are also generally described as rare.
The availability and nature of other treatment options: Other treatment options for your condition may include:
• Self-administered, over-the-counter analgesics and rest
• Medical care and prescription drugs such as anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants and pain-killers
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
If you chose to use one of the above noted “other treatment” options, you should be aware that there are risks and benefits of such options and you may wish to discuss these with your primary medical physician.
The risks and dangers attendant to remaining untreated: Remaining untreated may allow the formation of adhesions and reduce mobility and stability which may set up a pain reaction further reducing mobility. Over time this process may complicate treatment making it more difficult and less effective the longer it is postponed. More extensive interventions may become required or necessary.
